My Awesome Mother's Day: Runway, Lunch & Treats

My 2nd Mother's Day started at 6:45am, skipping a needed shower and taking more Prednisone (lovely steroid to help me get over asthmatic bronchitus that I tend to get 1-2 times a year... it makes me sweat, hunger for any and all edible substance & general other "roid rage"ing side affects). Not necessarily an ideal start, however, everything was exactly as it should be and I don't think I could imagine a better day.

Runway:

Capital City Church (our home church), recruited me to help organize and put together a runway show depicting women's fashions from each decade within the last century.  The runway show was interspersed throughout the sermon (preached by Starla Salyers & Elena Hart) that discussed seizing your individuality (You don't necessarily HAVE to have the name brand jeans/same personality has everyone else), your calling (Women have choices today that they didn't have in the past. We can be mom, working lady or even both, but we are gonna be better off if we let God show us what He has for us), your possibilities (We shouldn't limit ourselves to what we think.... God is bigger and has so much more than anything we can imagine) and ultimately seizing today and each and every day God calls you to be in a relationship with Him (People change almost as quickly as fashions, but God stays the same. We should make sure that the changes that God helps us to make on the inside are as visible on the outside as the trends of 80's shoulder pads and 90's blossom hats.)

The Stage Set to Go: Big Thank You to Costume Holiday House who Lent Us almost All of the Dresses on Display!

We had very little budget, so many of the dresses were purchased from the local thrift stores, and I got to dress a few ladies in old prom dresses and accessories of mine, but most emotionally (for my mom & I) were the dresses I got to put on women that were once my Mammaw's. My Mammaw's 1950's prom dress was steamed and put on display, her wedding dress was worn by a beautiful (inside & out) volunteer model, Jill and one of her "Tupperware Formal" dresses was worn by a close friend in the church, Natasha. I told my mom after I had fit the garments on the women that it was really quite shocking and touching to see the dresses "come to life" but those words could not fully prepare her for the visual impact of seeing them along with much of her large collection of vintage purses, hats, gloves & jewelry walk down the runway. Mammaw would have loved it and felt so proud that items that she kept (she was a bit of a valuable hoarder) could be used not only to look pretty but to be a part of a poignant message to women.  My Mama, of course, cried and had to take pictures of the models and pieces on display. It was very emotional and wonderful to see her lovingly caress these pieces that belonged to her Mama, my Mammaw.

Elsie (1960's) Tricia (1980's) Autumn (1910) & Michelle (Just Awesome)

Tricia (1980's w. Baby Prop) Jill (1950's/My Mammaw's Wedding Dress)

I have to say that I LOVED working on this project. Yes it was like designing a large theatrical production with hardly any budget and yes, technically I was working with non-models/non-professionals and yes I did have to do a handful of alterations, HOWEVER, I got to meet a large number of women and young ladies in our church and I am so honored to have had the opportunity to get to know and work with them. Some people could be snarky and say "a bunch of snooty Upper Arlington ladies" in a derogatory manner, however these ladies were on time, modest (in a non-annoying/still let me do my job way), kind, polite, appreciative, enthusiastic, willing to look "silly" or "matronly" to fit the decade and I didn't hear one complain or say anything "bad" about what they were wearing (and unfortunately I HAVE worked with professional models & actors who did not exhibit the professional poise that these 23 beautiful women did). On top of this honor Starla & Elena brought me up afterwards and thanked me in front of the whole congregation & gave me a gorgeous bouquet of Tulips (I cried). No I wasn't monetarily paid but that small gesture of recognition on Mother's Day in front of my Mama & Daughter felt like a million bucks.

My Pretty Tulips f/ Capital City Church

All the beautiful Ladies! 1910-2010

Lunch: 

We had a small cookout at our apartment! It was the first time that we "officially" had company over for a meal since we moved in & I'm excited to do it more often as we are capable. In preparation Donnie took care of Ara while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off. Hanging curtains, pictures & shelves, putting out knick knacks, dusting, vacuuming, organizing & prepping food was chaotic, but to be honest I was a little high off of the productivity and momentum of not being interrupted by baby.

I marinated chicken breasts in terriyaki sauce and we had them along with beer boiled brats, pasta salad & tomato/cucumber greek salad. I then baked a box cake because it sounded delish. I completely forgot to cut up the watermelon! However, I think everyone had a pretty good time. We gave cards to my mom-in-law, Kim and my Mama, and I got two lovely cards, some spending money & my first Clarisonic micro-derm-abrasion thinger-ma-bobber along with 2 dozen roses from Ara & Donnie (a dozen from each... I'm going to be overwhelmed if we have more kids lol)

Mama & I went out to visit a discount store (I got an umbrella for our table on the back patio and some other pretty odds & ends for the apartment) & stopped and got ice cream at McDonald's. All in all: a very relaxing afternoon with loved ones.

Beautiful Roses from Donnie & Ara

Later:

I called my Gramma Sue in Kansas, Donnie called his Grandma Rosemary in Rochester and Ara babbled in the background :) Donnie & I went out to Target with Ara to spend the money that was totally burning a hole in my pocket (I got a new purse/book-bag) & then ducked into Max & Erma's both to get out of the rain & use the rest of a gift cards we've had since Christmas. Dinner was really nice. Ara had her first corndog (cut up of course) and I got a white carnation to add to all my other beautiful flowers.

I washed my face with my fancy doo-wop & have decided that I don't know what a face lift feels like but after using this device I feel like I've had a mini awesome one. I then Laid down (while Donnie put le babe to bed) played on facebook and went to bed.... ahhhhhh yes.

My Pretty White Carnation f/ Max & Erma's

Summary:

I am a very happy, very blessed and very content Mama. Who really hopes that I'll be posting more pics of the runway later :)